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Behavioural biomechanics of insect herbivory - a case study on leaf-cutter ants

Descripción del proyecto

Cultivos a prueba de insectos

Los insectos herbívoros suponen un peligro continuo para la agricultura y la seguridad alimentaria mundial. Una forma nueva de abordar este problema puede ser conociendo cómo influyen las restricciones biomecánicas en el rendimiento de insectos herbívoros prolíficos. El proyecto financiado con fondos europeos MechAnt utilizará las hormigas cortadoras de hojas como modelo para generar conocimientos fundamentales sobre la función de la mecánica en la alimentación vegetal por parte de los insectos. El proyecto evaluará la hipótesis de que la organización social de las colonias de cortadoras de hojas se basa en estándares ergonómicos, los cuales dependen a su vez de las propiedades de las hojas. Para identificar y explicar los mecanismos y restricciones que determinan el rendimiento de los insectos a la hora de cortar las hojas se emplearán distintos campos científicos.

Objetivo

Insect herbivores are a dominant element in terrestrial ecosystems, and pose a continuing threat to global food security. However, little is known about a key determinant of insect herbivore success: the mechanics of plant-feeding. MechAnt proposes to transform our understanding of insect-plant relations by providing a rigorous biomechanical investigation into how insects cut leaves, using the major ecosystem engineers and principal insect pest of the New World, the leaf-cutter ants, as a model system. Specifically, MechAnt will combine the traditionally separate fields of behavioural ecology, mechanical engineering, materials science, computer vision and machine learning to investigate: (1) the mechanical and energetic constraints determining the cutting ability, and ontogeny of task choice of differently-sized workers, and hence the adaptive value of physical castes in eusocial insects; (2) the relationship between plant material properties, ease of cutting, and mandibular wear, which will reveal the key mechanical determinants of plant-herbivore species interactions; (3) the division of labour, ontogeny and demography of leaf-cutter colonies foraging on leaves of different “toughness”, testing the hypothesis that leaf-cutter colonies are organised according to ergonomic criteria. By integrating insights ranging from nano-scale mechanics up to whole-colony ecology, MechAnt will quantitatively link the mechanical properties of plants with the performance of individual foragers, the organisation of foraging parties, and the demography and social organisation of leaf-cutter ant colonies. The resulting understanding of the biomechanical innovations underpinning the success of the leaf-cutter ants will yield insights into the behavioural ecology of advanced plant-feeders, highlight the role of biomechanical constraints in the behaviour and evolution of herbivorous insects, and pave the way for the development of novel crop protection strategies.

Régimen de financiación

ERC-STG - Starting Grant

Institución de acogida

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Aportación neta de la UEn
€ 1 998 764,00
Dirección
SOUTH KENSINGTON CAMPUS EXHIBITION ROAD
SW7 2AZ LONDON
Reino Unido

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Región
London Inner London — West Westminster
Tipo de actividad
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Enlaces
Coste total
€ 1 998 764,00

Beneficiarios (1)